Month: July 2023

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Pennsylvania Man Arrested on Felony Charges For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Source: United States Department of Justice News

    A Pennsylvania man has been arrested on felony charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

    Terry L. Allen, 64, of Spring Mills, Pennsylvania, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. In addition, Allen is charged with misdemeanor offenses of engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or on restricted grounds and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder. Allen made his initial appearance today in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

    According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Allen was among the crowd of rioters that breached the western perimeter of the U.S. Capitol grounds. Video footage from the day depicts Allen on the west plaza beginning at approximately 12:58 p.m., carrying a black and red flag on a wooden flagpole approximately five feet in length.

    Court documents say that video evidence shows Allen shoving and physically assaulting law enforcement officers on the west plaza by using his wooden flagpole as a lance, driving it into officers in a stabbing motion.

    Later at approximately 1:56 p.m., Allen is seen on police body-worn camera footage approaching the police line and holding what appears to be a black metallic pole in one hand and a flagpole in the other. Court documents say that officers then deployed pepper spray against Allen and other rioters in the crowd. Allen responded by throwing what appeared and was consistent with a black metallic pole at the officers standing less than ten feet away.

    This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

    The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department.

    In the 29 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

    Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Defense News: USS Fort Lauderdale Commissions in Namesake City

Source: United States Navy

During an official commissioning ceremony held in front of 4,000 guests, the crew of the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) brought their ship to life in its namesake city, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., July 30.

“To the Sailors and Marines who will serve aboard USS Fort Lauderdale, thank you and your families in advance for the service you will fulfill and sacrifices you may endure,” Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who spoke at the event, said. “The moment you bring this Amphibious Transport Dock to life, you will strengthen the integrated deterrence capability of our entire Joint Force.”

Guest speakers for the event also included President of Ingalls Shipbuilding Kari Wilkinson; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith; Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantlis; and principal speaker, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida’s 23rd District.

“It is such an honor to be involved in the commissioning of the USS Ft. Lauderdale. It’s another chapter to the momentous history, friendship, and respect that the city has with the U.S. Navy,” said U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “As Chair of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, my support for our military is unwavering. I will always stand by our service members and veterans, and honor those who continue to serve.”

The commanding officer of the Fort Lauderdale roused the crowd and warned those who wish harm upon the United States that his ship will be ready.

“Finally, if there is one thing that history has shown us from the days of antiquity it is that the stakes of the competition for control of the seas are high and for our part, USS Fort Lauderdale stands ready to deliver on any day, and at any time,” said Capt. James Quaresimo, the ship’s commanding officer. “And those that may wish to challenge us – they should pause. For we are equipped with America’s unstoppable secret weapon that our enemies will never be able to duplicate and that is the fierce, dedicated and unstoppable, men and women of the United States Navy and Marine Corps!”

Fort Lauderdale has a long history with the Navy. Serving as one among 257 air stations during World War II, Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale made a big impact on the South Florida region, and the United States in general. The good weather allowed many hours of flying time for pilots, the open sea was good for at-sea training, and the Everglades provided a natural bombing range as there was no heavy industry or other military targets to draw enemy fire. In addition, the city holds Broward Navy Days each year hosting Navy ship’s for Fleet Week.

Upon conclusion of the ceremony, guests were invited to tour the 684-foot war fighting vessel, where they could experience the state of the art design that will continue to sail for decades from with future generations of Sailors and Marines aboard.

Prior to commissioning, Fort Lauderdale underwent multiple phases, including Builder’s and Acceptance Trials to prepare her to join the fleet.

“This crew displayed a phenomenal amount of teamwork, dedication, and enthusiasm in getting our ship ready,” said Capt. James Quaresimo, Fort Lauderdale’s commanding officer. “I am so proud of the crew’s efforts, proficiency, and accomplishments as we join the Fleet.”

The ceremony marks the official transition of the USS Fort Lauderdale into the fleet and caps a weeklong series of events celebrating the ship and its namesake city.

“The Navy names ships for people, places, and ideas that are special. The Navy certainly picked a special place when naming the USS Fort Lauderdale,” said Berger. “I am honored to be the sponsor for this incredible ship.”

The ship’s formal recognition of transition from concept to reality began October 13, 2017 at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding during the keel laying ceremony when the ship’s sponsor, The Honorable Meredith Berger, engraved her name upon a plaque, as a symbol authenticating the keel.

Fort Lauderdale was officially launched March 28, 2020 and was christened Aug 21, 2021.

A mast stepping ceremony was held August 20, 2021 and was welded into the mast on June 17, 2022. This time-honored naval tradition symbolizes the moment a shell becomes a ship, and her crew honors that tradition by placing mementos into a time capsule for future Fort Lauderdale Sailors to discover.

The crew moved onboard on April 11, 2022 and overcame an arduous schedule in order to get the ship underway on July 11, 2022 on its way to Fort Lauderdale.

“We have reached full operational capability and our Sailors and Marines have done it all with remarkable speed and efficiency allowing for the certification of warfare areas completely ahead of schedule,” said Quaresimo. “Our crew will be the first to claim such accomplishments. They truly are made of Salt Water and Excellence.”

Amphibious transport dock ships are versatile players in maritime security with the ability to support a variety of amphibious assault, special operations or expeditionary warfare missions, operating independently or as part of Amphibious Readiness Group (ARGs), Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs), or Joint Task Forces (JTFs). In addition to performing their primary mission, the San Antonio-class ships support anti-piracy operations, provide humanitarian assistance, and foreign disaster relief operations around the world.

LPDs are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment, and supplies by embarked Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft (MV 22). These ships support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions and serve as secondary aviation platforms for amphibious operations.

USS Fort Lauderdale will be homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.

For more news on PCU Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) visit
https://www.facebook.com/FORTLAUDERDALELPD28.

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Defense News: Naval Oceanography Employee Completes New Information Warfare Program

Source: United States Navy

Mr. Kevin LaCroix, Weather Services Technical Lead and Numerical Weather Prediction Models at Naval Oceanography, completed the three-year commitment designed to develop high-performing IWC employees.
 
NDLP allows senior-level DOD employees a chance to navigate their individual career journey, realize strengths, and position themselves for future IWC leadership positions. 
 
“I really loved being part the Naval Intelligence (NAVINTEL) NDLP, from the connections made with other NAVINTEL professionals in a similar positions at upper-middle management, to the unique access the program gave,” said LaCroix.
 
According to LaCroix, NDLP helped program-participants develop a deeper knowledge and respect for the NAVINTEL Enterprise through peer and senior-leader participation in the program.
 
“I learned valuable leadership perspectives and gained an appreciation for the hard work and tough decisions that senior leaders make every day,” LaCroix said.
 
Program-participants, like LaCroix, benefited from one-on-one coaching sessions, teambuilding activities, tours, briefs and opportunities for team projects.
 
NDLP was designed around the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), which are required for advancement to Senior Executive Service positions.
 
“The program helped us [NDLP participants] realize what pieces and parts we already mastered in our careers, then how to optimize our learning and experiences to fulfill remaining parts of the ECQs going forward,” LaCroix said.
 
The program started simultaneously as the COVID-19 global pandemic, but LaCroix’s completion of the program is a true testament the Navy’s spirit of resilience.
 
“For most of the first two years, our [NDLP] class was limited to Microsoft Teams meetings; which while more difficult and lacked the in-person interactions and after-work networking, did provide opportunity to show our kids and pets which loved to interrupt our all-day sessions,” said LaCroix.
 
Naval Oceanography has approximately 2,900 globally distributed military and civilian personnel, who collect, process and exploit environmental information to assist Fleet and Joint Commanders in all warfare areas to guarantee the U.S. Navy’s freedom of action in the physical battlespace from the depths of the ocean to the stars.
 

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United States Files Forfeiture Action Against Over Nine Thousand Rifles and Over 700,000 Rounds of Ammunition En Route from Iran to Yemen

Source: United States Department of Justice News

    The Justice Department today announced the filing of a forfeiture complaint against over 9,000 rifles, 284 machine guns, approximately 194 rocket launchers, over 70 anti-tank guided missiles, and over 700,000 rounds of ammunition that the U.S. Navy seized in transit from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to militant groups in Yemen.

    “The government of Iran, through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, remains bent on smuggling weapons of war to militant groups in violation of U.S. sections and international law,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “As this seizure demonstrates, the Department of Justice will work in lockstep with our U.S. Government partners to deny the Iranian regime the means to undermine our nation’s interest and threaten the security of our people.”  

    “The United States Attorney’s Office has again taken action to prevent Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from spreading violence and bloodshed across the world and threatening the security of our nation and allies,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves of the District of Columbia. “As proven before, where we have jurisdiction, this office will use all the tools available in our power to prevent criminals and terrorists from threatening global stability.”

    “It is paramount this significant amount of seized weapons and ammunition aimed to cause global devastation never reach its intended destination,” said HSI Washington, D.C. Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon. “HSI Washington D.C., with DCIS and the assistance from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle Iran’s illicit flow of weapons at every level to prevent Iran’s illicit activity in the region and globally.”

    “This seizure demonstrates DCIS’ continued commitment to stopping illicit weapons trafficking by the IRGC,” said Christopher W. Dillard, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS, along with its law enforcement partners, will use all tools to hinder the efforts of those who unlawfully threaten the safety and security of the United States.”

    According to court documents, the noted weapons came from four interdictions of stateless dhow vessels: two from 2021 and two from 2023. These interdictions led to the discovery and seizure of four large caches of conventional weapons, including long arms and anti-tank missiles, and related munitions – all of which were determined to be primarily of either Iranian, Chinese, or Russian origin.

    This action follows the government’s March 2023 forfeiture action against over one million rounds of ammunition en route from Iran to Yemen. These forfeiture actions address the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region. The forfeiture complaint alleges a sophisticated scheme by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons to entities that pose grave threats to U.S. national security.

    This forfeiture action is a product of the U.S. government’s coordinated effort to enforce U.S. sanctions against the IRGC and the Iranian regime and are merely allegations.

    The HSI Washington Field Office and the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizure. This team was also responsible for the March 2023 forfeiture action, which remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys S. Derek Shugert and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division are litigating the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.

    The burden to prove forfeitability in a forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

Verified complaint for forfeiture in rem

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Defense News: Navy Department Library Historic Relocation Underway

Source: United States Navy

The move, initiated in May and scheduled to complete in August, has necessitated the temporary closure of its doors to the public.
According to Navy Librarian Dylan Beazer, the move and the new facility will bring key improvements.

“First, The Library staff will be more centrally located in one building. It’s currently a challenge working projects with the team seated in different locations, so it will be a better working environment for us. The materials will also be more concentrated in one location, and that allows for ease of access for our patrons.”

Furthermore, addressing concerns about environmental controls, Beazer highlighted the benefits of the new facility.

“This new facility will keep the Navy’s books, historical documents, and other items in a long-term stable environment,” he said. “That means we’ll spend less time and money on preservation efforts as they’ll stay in better condition for longer. It will also allow the public and Navy historians longer access to the material for research and provide us with room for growth for our future collections. The most important thing is a better environment to control the humidity and temperature, keeping books healthier for longer. The items will also be located together and the facility will give us more room for future growth.”

The library’s impressive collection includes a staggering 114,000 book titles, 374,000 manuscripts, and 189,000 periodicals, with a particular emphasis on naval, nautical, and military history from around the world. These invaluable resources form the bedrock of the Navy Department Library’s enduring legacy. Among its gems are historical artifacts that bring to life the rich legacy of naval heritage.

While the Navy Library collection is extensive, there are often misconceptions about its scope, Beazer said.

“The size of the collection, what it covers, and how we grow it. While we focus on U.S. naval history, we also cover other aspects of maritime history, and we have resources on the other military branches too. We grow our collection both through book buying and donations, especially regarding cruise books and unique historical items.”

Established by a directive from President John Adams to Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert in 1800, the Navy Department Library has evolved into a treasured institution that holds an array of naval and maritime history, customs, and traditions. As one of the few major military historical libraries accessible to the public, it serves as a beacon of knowledge for an international audience.

Addressing access to the library’s resources for its many audiences around the country and throughout the fleet, Beazer highlighted the library’s virtual resources. “The best place is on our website in our online reading room and directs users to visit the online reading room.” (https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room.html). He also noted the photo archives are searchable, and a good portion of their collection is available online at https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography.html. While the library will make efforts to work on requests for information (RFIs) with their limited resources, there may not be an expectation of an immediate response.

As the Navy Department Library undertakes this historic move, its staff acknowledges the temporary inconvenience the closure poses to patrons. However, they have made provisions to ensure that the library’s services remain accessible in some capacity. While the library will not be able to send out interlibrary loans (ILLs) to other institutions during this period, it will actively order ILLs for its own patrons. The staff will strive to address inquiries from the public, though they anticipate some limitations due to the relocation process.

As the Navy Department Library settles into its new location, it anticipates the opportunity to continue serving its community with enhanced access to its unparalleled collection. This historic relocation not only protects the past but also paves the way for the preservation of future naval artifacts.

The staff at the Navy Department Library remains committed to advancing the understanding of naval heritage and safeguarding the stories that shape our history.

NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy’s unique and enduring contributions through our nation’s history and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC comprises many activities, including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, USS Constitution repair facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.